The Editors Discuss: What Is The Lion King About?

Editor-in-chief Jennifer Wright has never seen The Lion King, which astonished Deputy editor Ashley Cardiff. Jennifer asked Ashley to explain the beloved film’s appeal and Ashley kind of sucked at it. Apparently The Lion King is about Nazis, racism, Hamlet, eating grubs, Elton John and lion sex.

I saw it yesterday! For the first time. Late bloomer, I suppose. And yes, it’s about Elton.

Eileen

I think Scar was over-hunting, and that was the problem. Mufasa was looking at the big picture and practicing restraint, but Scar only cared about his poll numbers. Also, Tim Rice is fucking awesome.

Some say, ‘Eat, or be eaten.’ Some say, ‘Live, and let live.’ But all are agreed, as they join the stampede, you should never take more than you give.

Awesome.

Ashley Cardiff

Eileen, this is the most sensible comment I’ve seen on the internet in a long time. Mufasa really was looking at the big picture. Scar only cared about the immediate.

Eileen

Yup. Scar is basically Simba as a child – he thinks being king is power over his subjects, while Mufasa (and adult Simba) understood that being king is responsibility for the well being of the kingdom and everyone in it.

Jennifer Wright

Wait, how much do we actually know about Musafa’s reign. ANYTHING? Does Musafa – at any point in the movie – lay out his governing policy in front of Simba or anyone else? Seems to me Musafa got pretty lucky getting to reign during the years of bounty crops whereas Scar was really just doing the best he could under the circumstances.

Eileen

Mufasa to Simba: There’s more to being king than getting your way all the time [....] Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.
Simba: But Dad, don’t we eat the antelope?
Mufasa: Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass, and so we are all connected in the great circle of life.

Then Zazou comes in with a report on how all the animals in the kingdom are doing.

Ash

I’m not part of the tea party. If it heals the whole “not enough actors of color” debate, the good characters had African sounding names…so…. take that?

Celia

Jeremy Irons gave me shivers the whole time this past time I saw it (in theatres!!! in 3d!!!). That man has a sexy, sexy voice.

Maggie

We need to have a discussion about Rafiki, hes my fav. A complete loon yet awesome.

Okay, I had to post on this. You two are unbelievably lame for attempting to explain a movie neither of you seem to have ever seen. I get that The Lion King is out in 3D for awhile, but I feel cheated by clicking through this crap. Allowing the hyenas to have free reign over the herds forced them to migrate.

jellyspleen

In class we actually had a unit on The Lion King and even had to write an essay about it. According to my teacher, the hyenas are racial minorities, Scar is gay and also a Nazi, the female lions are oppressed, Mufasa is God and Simba is Jesus, and it’s not really the circle of life – it’s the triangle of life. The lions and specifically the “good” male leaders basically step on every other animal in their way (like that poor bird). It makes sense if you watch the movie but whenever I try to explain this to people, they think I’m insane.